Wedded Bliss

Now that the Historian and I are officially married, my world is absolutely perfect. I wake up to blue skies, birds chirping, everything is pefect... NOT. To begin with, the weather here has been really crapy lately. To wake up to blue skies won't be happening anytime soon (Well, at least according to the BBC 5 Day Weather Forecast). So instead, I wake up to gray clouds and the sound of the rain and the wind howling outside, not birds chirping. Yes, it is that dreary.

People ask me what it's like being married and I reply 'same as before'. It's absolutely the same as living together, except of course for that ring on your finger and being tied legally to that person. The word 'tied' brings a negative tone in that sentence. Perhaps, we should change it to 'joined', but that sounds medical now, like conjoined twins. Maybe we should use 'united' with this person? Yes, that sounds better than the word 'tied'. Like you didn't have a choice, like someone bounded you and gagged you and forced you to say 'I do'. The word 'united', definitely sounds better.

So yes, life goes on as usual here in our sleepy little cottage by the sea. The Mutt and I still take walks inspite of the cold breezy weather. One of these days I won't be surprised if I get blown away. The wind is that strong!... I still have my weekly deadlines I don't particularly like and which I end up doing at the last minute. And the Historian, whom I will now be referring to as Mr. B, still teaches History and Politics in a college here in Cornwal, and also with the OU (Open University). The only difference is we are now officially known as Mr. and Mrs. B.

Life is not perfect, but we are happy.

***

The song below was played in our wedding reception. I love this version!

The 30th of October 2009

It was a beautiful Autumn afternoon. We were lucky with the weather that week. Good weather, not the usual gloomy autumn day in England. Instead it was a sunny-ish day, with lovely golden leaves lying on the pavement, and an almost warm temperature, warm enough to go out in a light jacket.

Yes, it was a good day to get married.

The wedding ceremony was short, intimate and heartfelt. The peope at the Bristol Registry office did a great job. They didn't make us feel like it was just another wedding, just another job to do for the day. So when in Bristol, get married!

The one who gave me away... was a handsome 17 year old boy. T is the Historian's son. He was so handsome in his suit. He is the sweetest boy, especially since he was the one who offered to 'give me away'.

And so we walked down the very short aisle... T and I, all smiles, I think I was even giggling!



Confetti rained on us, as we stood by the door of the Bristol office. People stopped, smiled and watched us. Two Japanese looking tourists also stopped, and took pictures of us! My sister said we all looked happy in the pictures.


Yes, we were all genuinely happy that day.

After the ceremony, we had a nice dinner at the Cathay Rendezvous, a nice Chinese Restaurant, with authentic Chinese food. The Historian wanted a Filipino restaurant, but we couldn't find one in Bristol. They're all in London, or in bigger cities. And so we settled for Chinese food, which I love anyway.

Then the speeches ...

I feel so blessed to be included in the Historian's lovely family. His father gave a wonderful-touching speech. When he first met me, he said that I was the Historian's soul mate. He repeated that in his speech as he formally welcomed me into the family.

I am very lucky indeed.

The best man, and my lovely friend S, also made heartfelt speeches but it was the speech made by the handsome 17 year old boy who gave me away that made me all teary. We weren't expecting him to say something, but he did. And it was a lovely, lovely speech. He made the day even more special...

Then after that, having married a British man it was ... off to the pub!

And yes, that's what happened when the Historian and I, after having lived together in West Africa, and then in England, finally got married.

Beach Weather in November

When it's raining and cold, what's the best thing to do in Cornwall? ... Head off to the beach!

So that's what the Historian, the Mutt and I did, we bundled up in our rain gear and headed off to the beach.

It was still so cold in the beach, even though it stopped raining. I was wearing a hoodie underneath my rain gear, gloves and a woolen hat but was still shivering. It was so breezy! The wind from the Atlantic ocean was so strong, I feared if it got any stronger, all three of us, including two people on their horses out on a gallop on the beach would be blown away.

And then we got wet! A wave splashed on behind us, soaking our jeans and wellies. Now I know what the expression 'biting cold' means. It really bites. I felt it gnawing on my legs, making it really numb.

Here's a short video clip I took this afternoon. Listen to the wind, and watch the sand on the beach... Oh and the Historian with the Mutt happily bounding away in the background with his ears flapping in the wind.

***

So yes, there's really nothing much to blog about after getting married. Life goes on, pretty much the same way as it was before the Historian and I became known as Mr. and Mrs B. Nothing has changed really, apart from the wedding bands on our fingers ...

But I will still blog about our wedding in Bristol, especially because it was such a lovely but small intimate and special wedding. Alas, this blogger is slow, and err... a bit lazy.

Oh and there's that lovely small town in Wales that's known for its numerous bookshops! If heaven is a place on Earth, I think Hay-on-Wye is 'it'. Therefore, must really talk about that.

Soon ...

Pushcart Educator Wins!

Remember when I asked help to please vote for Filipino Pushcart Educator as CNN Heroe of the Year? Well, he won!

For those of you who voted, thank you very much. Please click here for full article.

A Beautiful Day

The 30th of October 2009, was the most beautiful Autumn day ever...

In fact, the day was so beautiful that we decided to get married...

Haha... of course, there was more to it than that...

To be continued...

Me in Colour

Favourite dialogue from the movie 'The Mirror Has Two Faces' (1996)

Mother: I thought you'd wear make-up today?
Rose: What's the point? It would only be me in colour?
Mother: You need a therapist!

Love those lines! Maybe, because I don't wear make-up, don't like wearing make-up, and don't even know how to put make-up on!

But on Friday, I have to! Well, not that I have to, but I want to. So yes, I've been panicking lately about it. Don't exactly want other people to do it for me, because I don't want heavy make-up. Just want a touch of it.

Ain't I lucky to have the bestest friends! Haha. So yesterday, a close-friend gave me a one-on-one basic tutorial make-up through skype yesterday. Don't you just love skype? =) Actually, this isn't the first time she's done this. I just had to ask again, because I keep forgetting! Well, there are more important things than make-up you know, like dilly-dallying over deadlines. Hehe.

So now I'm typing this fully made-up on. The works! Eye-shadow, mascara, blush-on, foundation and lipstick. A friend advised that I should use make-up at home just to get used to having the stuff on my face, especially the lipstick! I have this disgusting habit of licking my lips, that's why I never bothered to put lipstick on because it never stays anyway. My friend thinks that if I practice using it at home, and be consciously aware that I have it on, will stop the lick-lipping.

Oh and did I mention that I cannot use nail-polish either? That's because I can't relax with nail-polish on. I feel there's something unnatural about it.

So, yep, that's why I hardly wear any colour on my face... or any part of my err... body.

Anyway, here's a clip from the movie:



Three more days to go. Yikes!

The Doggie, the Tractor and the Perfect Rainbow

On our way home from Bristol last week, we saw this really, really cute site and of course, I just had to take a picture.

The farmer and his little furry companion turned right on a farm called 'The Home Farm'. We can see this farm from our window.

***

On a personal note, next week will be a very memorable one for me and the Historian, especially the 30th of October, 2009. It is THE day. I just hope that it will be a beautiful day without the rain. In my country, if I'm not mistaken, we offer eggs to ward off the rain. Not sure how to go about this though, should I turn up in the Catholic Church here and offer eggs to the Priest? Not sure how the English would take that. Hehe.

Anyway, I'm missing my family, especially my mom and wish that they could be with me on that special day. But next year...

Oh wait, speaking of the rain, I saw the most perfect and most beautiful rainbow I've ever seen in my life.

It was perfect and the colours were really standing out, maybe because it was set against a gray sky? Actually, there was even a light drizzle that day. But the rainbow still came out and it was breathtaking! The electric post and wires are such an eye-sore though. Anyway, I'll take that as an omen. The rainbow, not the wires... On the 30th, the weather will be as perfect and as lovely as that rainbow.

Indigo Girls and the Plectrum

Amy Ray

An Indigo Girls fan shouted from the crowd, 'Amy, can I have your plectrum please'. Amy Ray laughed and said 'Yes, you may have my plectrum, especially since you asked so politely. The crowd laughed. I turned to the Historian, and he said 'It's a pick'. That's the first time I've ever heard that word, plectrum.

Amy Ray and Emily Saliers (Indigo Girls)

I enjoyed the concert. To my surprise, the Historian did too. Even though we had had to stand from 7pm till about 11pm! When we arrived, there weren't much people yet. But you couldn't stand and lean by the stage anymore. People where there already, I was wondering what time they arrived. There were also people by the bar, and standing by the railing already. The Historian and I decided to stand behind the people by the stage. And it was a good decision! Although, worried about losing our places, we weren't even able to get a drink by the bar. Soon, the place was filled up.

A young woman, who reminded me of a young Jewel (before selling out), was the front act. She was obviously stoned. All I know is that her name was Stephanie. Didn't catch her last name at all. She was okay, not outstanding though.

Stephanie something (front act)

Anyway, the concert was great. The Indigo Girls were great! I was pleased that they sang some old songs so I was able to sing along. But sadly, I wasn't familiar with their new songs.

My only comment about the concert was that I was a bit bothered with the change of guitars after every song. When you're watching a concert, you don't want the momentum to stop, you just want it to keep going. But they stopped and said 'thanks y'all' countless times. Other than that, I was a woman in cloud 9! Oh and I loved their rapport with their fans. It was like being invited to a private party among friends, where everyone cared about each other.

Guitar change with the guitar man.

Next time they come into town, I will definitely drag the Historian to watch the Indigo Girls live again.

A short video of Indigo Girls & their fans (how do you turn this video around?)